UK weather forecast: Temperatures PLUMMET to -2 over the weekend as winter approaches

A COLD weather front is set to bring volatile weather for the weekend, causing thermometers to plummet to minus figures on Saturday morning. The sudden drop marks a large contrast to today’s conditions.

Friday will witness dry and bright conditions across most parts of the UK, with rising temperatures throughout the afternoon, but with the risk of isolated frost and fog patches in the early hours of the morning.

Commenting on the conditions, Met Office meteorologist Aidan McGivern said: “It’s a fine Friday for many places; while it has been England and Wales that have enjoyed the sunny skies and dry weather through the week, this Friday that weather spreads to all parts.

“It will be cooler and certainly a chilly start across parts of Scotland - sunny, but with a touch of frost and a few pockets of fog in places.

“Northern Ireland and northern England will likewise enjoy sunny skies, but perhaps with a bit of a nip in the air.”

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We are sandwiched between weather fronts as we end Friday, with higher pressure slap bang across the country

Aidan McGivern

However, the weather expert warned a cold front has pushed its way southwards overnight, bringing additional cloud to large parts of England and Wales to start the day.

Mr McGivern said: “A cold front has pushed its way through overnight, and that has brought additional cloud, not much rain but more rain, and that means it is not as chilly as we begin the day for parts of England and Wales compared to recent mornings.”

A few showers will also be witnessed towards the far north of Scotland and the far north-west.

This cloud will nevertheless clear throughout the morning, leaving sunny skies across large parts of the British Isles.

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A series of weather fronts are set to pass over the UK during the weekend (Image: GETTY)

Mr McGivern said: “Less of a wind for the north, and drier weather and brighter skies meaning it will be pleasant in the north as well.”

However, a series of weather fronts are set to pass over the UK, bringing successive bands of cloud and strong winds.

The weather expert said: “We are sandwiched between weather fronts as we end Friday, with higher pressure slap bang across the country.

“But no sooner do we say goodbye to the first weather front, that we introduce a new one, which is going to bring in thicker cloud as we begin the weekend, along with a freshening wind across central and northern Scotland in particular.”

Temperatures will plummet to minus two degrees on Saturday morning (Image: GETTY)

Temperatures will consequently rise first thing on Saturday across Scotland due to cloud cover, but thermometers are set to plummet further south.

Mr McGivern said: “Further south, clear skies and lighter winds mean that in towns and cities we begin the weekend with temperatures of zero to three degrees, and in the countryside it could be minus one or minus two degrees, so a chill in the air, and frost in places.”

The meteorologist nevertheless reassured Britons that conditions will soon warm up throughout the weekend, with sunny skies forecast across much of England, Wales, and parts of Northern Wales and southern Scotland.